Theme: Try again?
Samantha and Katie are not new to the LAT, but I think new in a collaboration? Let's unpack what they've presented us with today.
So to the theme - add "TRY" in the middle of, or at the end of, a random phrase or noun. Hilarity ensures.
17. Feature of a jean jacket with a snowflake design?: WINTRY BACK. Win back.
24. French dessert for a romantic date?: PASTRY DE DEUX. Pas de Deux
37. Handwoven textile that's a big source of comfort?: SECURITY TAPESTRY. Security Tape
48. Group that oversees tablets?: IPAD MINISTRY. iPad Minis
60. "Go on, take a taste!" ... or an apt title for this puzzle?: GIVE IT A TRY.
Let's see what might entertain us in the fill. The long FIXED ASSET and I'M USED TO IT in the downs gave this some sparkle, but mostly I found it a bit of a trudge. See what you think.
1. Shred: TATTER.
7. Built-in part of a camisole, maybe: BRA.
10. Menu item: FILE.
14. Mark who won the Masters and the British Open in 1998: O'MEARA.
15. __ Palmas de Gran Canaria: LAS.
16. Spanish tykes: NIÑOS.
19. Nerve fibers: AXONS.
20. Big heads: EGOS.
21. Center of operations: BASE.
22. Settle a score: AVENGE.
23. "Hotel du __": Anita Brookner novel: LAC.
26. Mortgages, e.g.: LIENS. Hand up for LOANS first.
28. Bear on a star chart: URSA. A couple of constellation-related fills today.
29. Scent: AROMA.
31. Introductory offer?: NAME.
33. Plus or minus: SIGN.
41. Fifth Avenue icon: SAKS.
42. Spool: REEL.
43. Assailed: BESET.
44. Overhead projection?: EAVE.
46. Needing a sweep: SOOTY.
53. Emeril catchword: BAM!
56. Get a move on: HASTEN.
57. Actress Dunaway: FAYE.
58. Latvian seaport: RIGA.
59. Hunter on a star chart: ORION.
62. Highlander's pattern: PLAID. A Scot would call it tartan, not plaid. Each clan has its own tartan (or tartans, there can be variations within a clan). If you're not a member of a clan, you can wear Royal Stewart tartan.
63. Flamenco cry: OLÉ.
64. Places for addresses: DAISES.
65. Email status: SENT.
66. Part of a bridal quartet?: OLD. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
67. "In spite of all that ... ": AND YET.
Down:
1. Beach blanket, often: TOWEL.
2. Compañera: AMIGA.
3. Common time for local news: TEN O'CLOCK.
4. Needlework?: TATS.
5. Flub: ERR.
6. Wayfarer maker: RAY-BAN.
Tom Cruise in Risky Business apparently generated sales of more than 350,000 pairs after the 1993 movie release. He also did Ray-Ban a favor with the shameless Aviator product placement plug in "Top Gun".
7. Crater creator: BLAST.
8. Soap Box Derby entrant: RACER.
9. "Shoot": ASK.
10. Property that may depreciate, in accounting: FIXED ASSET.
11. Hole-__: IN ONE. The 17th hole at Royal Liverpool at the Open Championship last weekend featured a wicked par-three 17th hole which had scores ranging from one to six during the tournament. Great theater!
12. Feature of "butte" but not "but": LONG U.
13. London's neighboring county: ESSEX. One of the clues I have a genuine issue with. "Neighboring county" implies one, there are actually many. Essex, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire. Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Sussex. Middlesex used to be on the list, but was absorbed into Greater London along the way.
16. Pew areas: NAVES.
18. __ sax: BASS.
22. Many a "Mad Men" role: AD REP.
24. Orchard fruit: PEAR.
25. Arizona city: YUMA.
27. "Eh, this happens a lot": I'M USED TO IT.
29. Burro: ASS.
30. "Michael Collins" actor: REA. Where's the first name? The answer to the clue as written is "Stephen Rea".
31. Dec. 31: NYE.
32. Georgia airport code: ATL.
34. Wee: ITSY-BITSY.
35. Higher ed. test: G.R.E.
36. Empire St. paper: NYT.
38. Monte of the 1950s Giants: IRVIN.
39. Frosh, probably: TEEN.
40. TikTok aesthetic: EBOY.
45. Change: AMEND.
46. Lid woe: STYE.
47. Brand named for two states: OREIDA. Oregon and Idaho pototoes.
48. Restaurants with stacks: IHOPS.
49. "Je __ français": PARLE.
50. Made in Japan, say: ASIAN.
51. Woodruff's co-anchor: IFILL.
52. Hit Ctrl-S: SAVED. Tricky one - I knew "SAVE" but left me a blank square to deal with, but then realized "hit" present tense and "hit" past tense are written the same. Nice misdirection.
54. Second something: AGREE.
55. Hath permission: MAYST.
58. Bust: RAID.
60. Ooze: GOO.
61. Sun shade: TAN.
13. London's neighboring county: ESSEX. One of the clues I have a genuine issue with. "Neighboring county" implies one, there are actually many. Essex, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire. Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Sussex. Middlesex used to be on the list, but was absorbed into Greater London along the way.
16. Pew areas: NAVES.
18. __ sax: BASS.
22. Many a "Mad Men" role: AD REP.
24. Orchard fruit: PEAR.
25. Arizona city: YUMA.
27. "Eh, this happens a lot": I'M USED TO IT.
29. Burro: ASS.
30. "Michael Collins" actor: REA. Where's the first name? The answer to the clue as written is "Stephen Rea".
31. Dec. 31: NYE.
32. Georgia airport code: ATL.
34. Wee: ITSY-BITSY.
35. Higher ed. test: G.R.E.
36. Empire St. paper: NYT.
38. Monte of the 1950s Giants: IRVIN.
39. Frosh, probably: TEEN.
40. TikTok aesthetic: EBOY.
45. Change: AMEND.
46. Lid woe: STYE.
47. Brand named for two states: OREIDA. Oregon and Idaho pototoes.
48. Restaurants with stacks: IHOPS.
49. "Je __ français": PARLE.
50. Made in Japan, say: ASIAN.
51. Woodruff's co-anchor: IFILL.
52. Hit Ctrl-S: SAVED. Tricky one - I knew "SAVE" but left me a blank square to deal with, but then realized "hit" present tense and "hit" past tense are written the same. Nice misdirection.
54. Second something: AGREE.
55. Hath permission: MAYST.
58. Bust: RAID.
60. Ooze: GOO.
61. Sun shade: TAN.
I did my best with this one, but right now I'm pretty glad to post the grid and be done with it.
I hope your mileage varied!
See you all soon - Steve
